Germany to phase out Huawei and ZTE components from 5G infrastructure by 2029

In a significant announcement on Thursday, the German government revealed its plan to gradually eliminate the use of critical Huawei and ZTE components from the country's 5G mobile infrastructure. The decision marks a crucial move by Germany to distance itself from Chinese companies in the realm of telecommunications.

Agreement with Major Telecom Companies

Nancy Faeser, the interior minister, emphasized the importance of the decision, stating, "We are protecting the central nervous system of the German economy — and we are protecting the communication of citizens, companies and the state." The agreement, reached with major telecom giants including Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, and Telefonica, outlines a phased approach to removing Chinese-made components from the 5G networks.

Two-Step Process

The plan consists of two stages. Initially, the use of Chinese-made critical components in the core parts of the 5G networks will be discontinued by the end of 2026. Subsequently, these components will be phased out from antennas, transmission lines, and towers by the end of 2029.

Notably, Huawei and ZTE did not provide any immediate response to the agreement or the decision made by the German government and the telecom companies.

Significance of the Agreement

Germany, being responsible for approximately a quarter of mobile customers in the European Union, has demonstrated a strategic shift in its approach to Chinese involvement in its telecommunications infrastructure. This decision comes despite Germany's significant reliance on the Chinese export market, signaling a proactive stance in safeguarding its critical communication networks.